Need help working out Strat's age

[Blackvault]

Hi

I currently have a Stratocaster on loan and I'm trying to work out its age. The guitar is a red colour (possible Fiseta Red) with a maple neck. I can't find a serial number on the headstock, all the info is, Fender Stratocaster with synchroized tremolo and two PAT numbers. There is also a original contour body decal with PAT pend below.

I have taken the neck off and stamped on the back of the neck is ST-HM while the neck cavity is stamped with ST. There is nothing on the neck plate.

The pickguard is single ply white while the pickups are yellow (possibly with age.)

Hope this is helpful. Thanks in advance.

Blackvault

[Blackvault]

Sounds MIJ...Got pics?

I thought the code for Japan was Z IIRC. I can provide pics give me a few mins.

Blackvault

[Wilko]

two patent numbers?!

that would be 1961. but maple neck?

Must be some reissue, but I've not seen reissues with pat numbers., Just "With Syncronized Tremolo"

[Blackvault]

MIJ model numbers usually start with an abbreviation of the model: ST = Strat, TL = Tele etc...

Are you referring to the ST stamped on the neck? If so that would mean its a Hank Marvin Japanese model?

Just uploading the pics now

Blackvault

[Blackvault]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brian.s...s/IMG_9859.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brian.s...s/IMG_9862.jpg

There you go.

Blackvault

[Blackvault]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brian.stuart/Overclockers%20Images/IMG_9858.jpg"

There is the pat numbers on the headstock

Blackvault

[Blackvault]

It doesn't mention anything about Squire on it :S I'm seriously confused now.

Blackvault

[Blackvault]

Are you suggesting that its decal is not legit? If so then what is the guitar? Is it therefore worth anything? This guy is possibly selling it to me so what price do you think I should offer him?

Blackvault

[Blackvault]

no want me to photograph it?

Blackvault?

[Blackvault]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brian.s...s/IMG_9867.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brian.s...s/IMG_9870.jpg


Blackvault

[Blackvault]

Yes there seems to be a slightly darker varnish on the front of the headstock. How do you tell if the decal is on top or under the finish?

Blackvault

[Wilko]

That is a Japanese Squier pickguard assembly. The Hank Marvin conne ction figures in there (I don't know much about them. Early 90s were a lot of great Japanese Fender reissues. Many with painted headstocks and such.

Those guitars are getting top dollar. 400 and up for nice ones.

I sold a seafoam green 1989 version for 420 last week.

I love that decal. That's the most realistic I've ever seen. The reissue logos have the first "e" all messed up.

[Blackvault]

Ok so its a good guitar in its own right then. I'm happier that I now know its a Squier made in Japan around the late 80s early 90s and is the Hank Marvin signature with a Fender decal stuck on the headstock. I might offer the guy a dirt cheap price then and see what comes out of it.

thanks for the help guys

Blackvault

[Wilko]

IMHO, if it has that headstock adjuster hole it's not worth more than 200 bucks. End of story.
I hate ever one of those necks.

[Blackvault]

It doesn't have the adjuster hole on it, although my 77 Strat does.

Blackvault

[Wilko]

A 77 has a bullet. The newer style usually means an odd area at the headstock/neck transistion area.

I just found that the Hank Marvin models were introduced in 1997.

Apparently they are pricey:

http://av.uk.freeads.net/Fender_Hank...ter-144505.htm